The South division of the Valley Baseball League beat the North division 5-4 in the Valley League All-Star Game at James Madison University’s Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday. Beaufort High School graduate Weber Pike, a South Carolina Gamecock, played for the North team in the Valley League All-Star Game.
Charles Town Cannons shortstop Bradley Jones (College of Charleston) was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the North division. Jones leads the league in home runs with six and was the runner-up in the home run derby after replacing Strasburg’s Ryan Flick. Jones had one hit on two at-bats and a three-run home run on the night.
Staunton Braves’ outfielder Jack Schaaf (Florida International University) earned the MVP honor for the South after hitting a two-run double down the first base line in the bottom of the sixth. Schaaf went 2-4 with 2 RBIs.
The game remained scoreless until North shortstop Jones’ homer in the top of the third gave the North a 3-0 lead. That same inning the South got on base with two consecutive walks from outfielder Shane Billings (Harrisonburg/Wingate) and 2nd baseman Jose Carrera (Covington/Manhattan). Billings scored off of a Tyler Straub (Harrisonburg/University of Texas-San Antonio) single and a Conner Gunn (New Market/Amherst College) sac fly brought in Carrera.
After two more quiet innings, the South scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded, Schaaf hit a ball down the first base line to bring in two runs. Billings followed with a sac fly to bring in another run giving the South a 5-3 lead. The North made an effort to come back with one run in the top of the seventh but could not answer any further.
Approximately 30 Major League Baseball scouts were expected to attend the event.
